CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Lt. Col. Jay Macklin (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Chad Cuomo (right) the command team from 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Task Force XII, unfurl their battalion colors at a ceremony held Dec. 24. The battalion is the lead element in Task Force Storm, taking the air assault mission in Multi-National Division-Baghdad after five months of serving Multi-National Corps-Iraq at Logistics Support Area Anaconda.

In remarks during the ceremony, Lt. Col. Mike Shenk, 'Spearhead' battalion commander thanked his Soldiers for their hard work since the battalion stood up in April 2006 at Fort Hood and deployed in October 2006.

"We are genuinely proud of many things you have accomplished over the past 20 months since your activation on (April 16, 2006)," Shenk said.

Shenk told the Soldiers he was particularly proud of the fact that the battalion was bringing all of its Soldiers home and that the unit exceeded its reenlistment goals.

Additionally, he said he was proud of the skill they demonstrated during the deployment.

"You learned the standards of your profession and demonstrated the discipline to uphold them," he said. "You maintained the integrity to enforce discipline on yourselves, your peers, your subordinates and your superiors. You bounced back from adversity. You are recognized within the brigade and across the division for attention to detail and mission accomplishment."

Among the missions accomplished by the Spearhead Battalion were flying 24,400 hours in support of MND-B missions, moving 148,000 passengers and 1.1 million pounds of cargo and executing more than 170 air assaults.

"You've done well; be proud of what you've accomplished here, and I thank you for your sacrifice and service," Macklin said.

Macklin congratulated his Soldiers on a successful in-theater move from Balad to Taji and on a second relief in place and transfer of authority since deploying in July. He told them to continue to train and learn.

"Always remember your training and constantly learn lessons and apply them in your tactics, techniques and procedures every day," he said.